Missing Network Settings - "Find Devices and Content"

Anonymous
2013-11-29T13:30:12+00:00

Windows 8.1 -Under all my various network adapters there is no  "Find Devices and Content" box.

I've tried various fixes. Changing homegroup etc. Nothing work.

Please provide some guidance

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Internet and connectivity

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous
2014-01-11T17:54:45+00:00

I am not sure if everyone is checking at the right place if they are connected to domain network and they have 8.1 because only 8.1 has this option. Windows 8 has a different way to share devices and content.

For chromecast troubleshooting:

https://support.google.com/chromecast/troubleshooter/2995236?hl=en&ref\_topic=3447927#ts=3081637,3249450

Where to find the option to share:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/turn-sharing-on-or-off

I have been using Windows since forever and have used Apple too, so switching to Mac / Apple is not going to help. Its just another OS with the same fundamentals. Go figure it out in a Apple store if you want a demo.

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-03-10T16:22:40+00:00

    This solution worked for me! Thank you. What a pain in the ***!

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-03-14T01:42:42+00:00

    Hey guys,

    Great news, I found a fix! I realized another problem was related to the problem we all have, and that is that the network location actually doesn't show up at all. So I searched for a solution to that problem, and I found this page: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg252535(v=ws.10).aspx

    The solution is this: remove HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Network\NwCategoryWizard

    The end. Slider is back! :)

    Rather that deleting it I just set the value from 0 to 1. I killed and restarted explorer.exe via TaskMgr to reload the registry and ta-da - the setting was back.

    THANK YOU for your post. I was going insane trying to get this setting to show up so I could get my ChromeCast to work.

    Yes, I know OP doesn't have a ChromeCast but maybe your reghack or mine will help.

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-04-04T17:31:35+00:00

    i finally found the solution

    goto Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Troubleshooting\Network and Internet

    and select homegroup , then skip network troubleshoot and it will ask that changing to private network will solve and apply the fix :)

    This is what I had to do to "WORK AROUND", I cannot stress that enough, the problem. This is a stupid fix and the "find devices and content" is still not found. 

    I've checked...

    PC Settings > Network > Connections > Network Device > Nothing here.

    PC Settings > Network > HomeGroup > Tells me to go to "Network > Connections > Network Device".

    Charms > Right Click Wifi Name > no option to turn on sharing.

    My System

    I am not part of a Domain

    I am not part of a Home Group

    I am running Windows 8.1 latest updates (SPRO3)

    I have Turned UAC down 1 tick

    I have deleted the Hyper-V virtual switch networks

    I have uninstalled Hyper-V

    I have tried turning it off and on again

    My Wifi device is not bridged

    How do we get the option "find devices and content" back?

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-04-16T12:29:35+00:00

    Hey guys,

    Great news, I found a fix! I realized another problem was related to the problem we all have, and that is that the network location actually doesn't show up at all. So I searched for a solution to that problem, and I found this page: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg252535(v=ws.10).aspx

    The solution is this: remove HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Network\NwCategoryWizard

    The end. Slider is back! :)

    Rather that deleting it I just set the value from 0 to 1. I killed and restarted explorer.exe via TaskMgr to reload the registry and ta-da - the setting was back.

    THANK YOU for your post. I was going insane trying to get this setting to show up so I could get my ChromeCast to work.

    Yes, I know OP doesn't have a ChromeCast but maybe your reghack or mine will help.

    This solution worked for me so thanks dear users - Um Microsoft support, a bit embarrassing that you couldn't answer this question on page 1 all those years ago but the users of the software you created come up with the answer; Wow! Also Microsoft still have not fixed this problem through an update and generally waste massive amounts of time for users trying to resolve this and other annoying windows issues.

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